Midfield Bermudagrass

ABSTRACT

A triploid variety of Bermudagrass called Midfield, produces no viable seed, has superior cold hardness, excellent turf quality, and spreads more aggressively than most other turf type Bermudagrasses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hybridBermudagrass which is well-adapted to the transition zone of the UnitedStates. Midfield is a turf-type hybrid Bermudagrass developed byopen-pollination at the Kansas State University polycross nursery inFort Hayes, Kans.

Bermudagrass is widely grown as a lawn and general purpose turf, as aforage plant, and for erosion control. Common Bermudagrass requires warmweather for growth. The devastating winter of 1989-1990 killed manyacres of Bermudagrass, establishing a need for hardy selectionspossessing high turf quality, particularly in the northern Bermudagrassor transistion zone. In addition, current commercial Bermudagrasscultivars present certain problems in that they have poor sod strengthand are not tolerant of low fertility.

The distinguishing characteristics of this new variety of plant areexcellent cold hardiness combined with high turf quality at low nitrogenlevels, that is to say, good texture, color, sod density and tensilestrength. Midfield Bermudagrass possesses increased cold tolerance to-20° F. and is also very drought resistant. This cultivar is aggressive,tolerant of low fertility, and has excellent wear resistance, whichmakes it suitable for school grounds or other low maintenance use.

Midfield Bermudagrass is a clone which was vegetatively propagated fromrhizomes or stolons. The cultivar originated from a single seedling andwas vegetatively propagated at Manhattan, Kans. The seed parent ofMidfield was a cold hardy, Kansas, common tetraploid (2n=4×=36)Bermudagrass, Cynodon dactlon var. dactylon. The pollen parent was oneof several African diploid (2n=2×=18) Bermudagrasses, C. transvaalensis,growing in the same polycross nursery as the common parent. Midfield isa triploid with 2n=3×=27 chromosomes and is highly male and femalesterile. The clone progeny have been shown to be stable in alldistinguishing characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a color photographic representation of a nursery grown pottedMidfield Bermudagrass plant in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a color photographic representation of a field grown MidfieldBermudagrass plant subject to periodic mowing;

FIG. 3 is a graphic representation of electrophoretic banding patternsin the peroxidase isoenzyme system;

FIG. 4 is a photograph illustrating the complete influorescence ofMidfield Bermudagrass;

FIG. 5 is a photograph illustrating a single raceme of MidfieldBermudagrass; and

FIG. 6 is a photograph illustrating a single spikelet of MidfieldBermudagrass.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following taxonomic description is of the plant when grown in thegreen house as a potted plant and describes specimens cultured undercontrolled conditions which can be reproduced. However, the descriptionto follow should not be construed as limiting with regard to theexpressed characteristics of this plant, because the characteristics ofMidfield have been observed to vary widely as a function of stage ofgrowth, growing conditions, geographic location of culture, andmanagement practices to which sod of the plant is subjected. Suchdifferences in appearance of this plant can be appreciated with acomparison of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the drawing, for example.

MIDFIELD BERMUDAGRASS

`Midfield` Bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon×Cynodon transvaalensis is astoloniferous perennial with slender underground tan to light brownrhizomes; surface stolons slender, prostrate, fast spreading; culmsslender, about 5-40 cm high and 0.5-1.5 mm in diameter. Leaf-bladesflat, or folded when dry, often short and narrow, about 1.5-2.0 mm wideand 75-110 mm long on fuly extended mature shoots; leaves dark green,mostly glabrous with very few hairs on upper (adaxial) surface nearbase; ligule a membranous rim about 0.2-0.3 mm long, ciliate on theedge; leaf sheaths light green, sometimes deveoping purple (anthocyanin)pigmentation at base, glabrous except for few hairs at base, about 10-40mm in length and 1-5 mm in width. Internodes light green, sometimesdeveloping purple (anthocyanin) pigmentation. Midfield exhibits a darkpark green leaf color, #21-L-8, Maerz et al., A Dictionary of Color,McGraw-Hill Book Company, 2 Ed. (1950). Inflorescences infrequent,seldom producing seed heads; no viable seed produced. Growth habitdecumbent, prostrate.

Midfield is effectively sterile but does exhibit complete flower parts.Anthers are formed in the flowers; however, little if any viable pollenis formed within the anthers.

Unmowed midfield exhibits an average internode length of from about 43.2to 47 mm, and roots readily form at each node under favorable conditionsof soil moisture and temperature.

Midfield has been experimentally tested at several locations in theUnited States for overall turf performance. It is superior to commercialturf Bermudagrass varieties in one or more of the followingcharacteristics affecting turf performance: sod density, color, andcold-tolerance. Midfield, along with two other cultivars, showed thesecond highest frost tolerance rating of 28 cultivars tested. Ascompared with other seedless types, Midfield is an aggressive clone withgood turf quality and sod strength at low nitrogen levels. Midfield isan aggressive, fast-growing cultivar exhibiting a growth rate comparableto Vamont and Midiron cultivars. Midfield produces fewer seed heads,especially at higher nitrogen levels. It is anticipated that Midfieldwill be used exclusively as a lawn grass and for recreational turfs; itis not anticipated that Midfield will be used as a forage grass.Midfield exhibits substantially similar mowing and thatchingcharacteristics, as compared with conventional Bermudagrass cultivars.

Midfield Bermudagrass is genetically and physiologically distinctive ascompared to other turf Bermudagrass cultivars. As best shown in FIG. 3,Midfield presents distinct electrophoretic banding patterns in theperoxidase isoenzyme system. Moreover, Midfield exhibits inflorescenceof unilateral racemes numbering 3-6, usually 4 or 5, 3.5-6 cm long(average 4.3 cm); spikelets perfect 2-2.5 mm long with medium spacing onraceme, about 2.5 mm; glumes lanceolate in side view, 1-nerved, theupper 1/2-2/3 as long as the spikelet; lemma pubescent on the keel;palea glabrous.

The outstanding characteristics of this new variety of Bermudagrass aregreater cold-tolerance combined with good turf quality at low nitrogenlevels. Midfield is an aggressive clone with good sod strength and wearresistance which is suitable for school grounds and other lowmaintenance use.

The following Tables 1-9 further describe the characteristics ofMidfield (E-29), as compared with other cultivars. Tables 3 and 4confirm the spring green-up and frost hardiness of Midfield. Table 9demonstrates that Midfield is resistant to Spring Dead Spot(Ophiosphaerella herpotrica).

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Sod Quality of Bermudagrass Clones, 1987-88.sup.1                                                Sod                                                                Internode                                                                             Rhizome  strength (lbs.)                                                                           (Kgs)                                    Bermuda clone                                                                           length (in.)                                                                            depth    1978  1981  1988                                 ______________________________________                                        Midiron   2.0       1.75     12.5  17.7  16.7                                 KS Improved                                                                             1.5       4.28     28.0  23.2  NA                                   Midfield  1.8       2.72     33.5  44.9  45.7                                 Midlawn   1.7       2.34     34.3  31.8  30.7                                 ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 Data for 1978 and 1981 from Kansas State University Research           Center; 1988 data from Mississippi State University                      

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Mean Turfgrass Quality Ratings of Bermudagrass                                Cultivars at Thirteen Locations in the United States, 1990.sup.1              ______________________________________                                                Turfgrass Quality Ratings (1-9, 9 = ideal turf)                       Bermuda clone                                                                           AR     AZ      CA2  CA3  FL    KS   LA                              ______________________________________                                        Tifway    7.9    7.9     6.7  6.4  7.9   1.0  7.6                             Tifway II 7.8    7.8     6.4  6.4  8.1   1.5  7.7                             MSB-10    7.6    7.8     6.9  6.3  8.1   1.7  7.7                             A-29      7.1    6.9     5.5  5.5  6.4   8.2  7.1                             Midfield (E-29)                                                                         7.0    6.4     5.6  5.7  6.6   8.0  6.2                             Midiron   6.8    6.4     5.9  5.8  6.9   7.5  6.8                             Midlawn (A-22)                                                                          7.1    6.6     5.5  5.9  5.9   7.7  6.6                             MSB-20    7.4    7.1     5.7  5.5  7.7   1.0  7.1                             NM 43     6.9    7.1     5.6  5.8  7.7   1.2  7.2                             MSB-30    6.0    6.9     6.5  5.8  6.5   2.7  7.1                             Tufcote   7.6    6.2     5.7  5.7  7.2   2.0  7.4                             Tifgreen  6.7    6.9     5.7  5.6  8.1   1.3  6.8                             CT-23     5.0    7.2     5.6  5.9  6.5   3.0  7.2                             NM 507    6.3    7.7     6.2  5.6  8.1   1.0  7.4                             Texturf 10                                                                              6.3    6.6     5.5  5.5  7.0   2.8  6.3                             NM 471    5.8    6.9     6.1  6.0  7.6   1.0  7.3                             RS-1      6.0    5.6     5.5  5.7  5.7   5.8  5.9                             FB-119    5.4    6.1     5.4  5.2  6.7   1.0  7.3                             NM 375    5.7    6.2     5.4  5.6  7.1   1.0  6.6                             Vamont    5.5    5.4     5.2  5.3  6.7   3.2  5.7                             NMS 3     4.7    6.4     5.3  5.5  6.7   1.0  6.8                             NM 72     4.8    6.4     5.2  5.1  7.8   1.0  6.6                             NMS 4     5.6    6.3     5.5  5.3  7.2   1.0  6.2                             Guymon    5.1    6.2     4.6  5.2  6.2   6.2  5.6                             Numex-Sahara                                                                            4.7    4.7     5.2  5.1  4.9   1.0  6.3                             NMS 2     4.9    4.5     5.1  5.1  3.8   1.0  5.4                             NMS 14    4.5    4.6     4.9  4.8  4.6   1.0  5.2                             AZ Common 4.6    4.2     4.8  4.9  4.4   1.0  5.4                             LSD VALUE 1.1    0.6     0.4  0.4  1.1   1.4  0.6                             ______________________________________                                                Turfgrass Quality Ratings (1-9, 9 = ideal turf)                       Bermuda clone                                                                           MD     MO     MS   UB    VA1  VA4  Mean                             ______________________________________                                        Tifway    7.1    1.9    7.5  7.3   6.2  7.1  6.3                              Tifway II 6.8    1.0    7.7  7.3   6.3  7.1  6.3                              MSB-10    6.8    1.0    7.7  6.7   6.3  6.8  6.3                              A-29      5.8    1.4    5.1  7.0   7.0  5.5  6.0                              Midfield (E-29)                                                                         5.8    2.8    4.4  6.8   6.5  5.9  6.0                              Midiron   5.3    2.7    4.2  6.3   6.2  5.8  5.9                              Midlawn (A-22)                                                                          5.7    1.4    5.1  6.7   6.2  5.8  5.8                              MSB-20    6.3    1.0    6.9  7.6   5.5  6.6  5.8                              NM 43     6.2    1.0    6.7  7.7   6.2  6.1  5.8                              MSB-30    6.7    1.5    5.9  6.2   5.7  7.1  5.7                              Tufcote   5.4    1.0    5.6  7.4   6.5  6.7  5.7                              Tifgreen  5.9    1.0    6.2  7.8   6.0  6.4  5.7                              CT-23     6.4    1.0    5.6  5.7   4.8  6.2  5.4                              NM 507    6.2    1.0    4.5  4.3   4.8  6.9  5.4                              Texturf 10                                                                              5.5    1.0    4.7  5.8   6.3  6.3  5.4                              NM 471    5.8    1.0    4.4  4.8   5.2  6.9  5.3                              RS-1      5.3    1.5    3.7  5.8   5.7  5.6  5.2                              FB-119    5.8    1.2    4.6  6.3   6.3  6.0  5.2                              NM 375    5.2    1.0    4.0  6.1   5.8  6.0  5.1                              Vamont    4.8    2.1    4.0  5.9   5.7  5.8  5.0                              NMS 3     5.7    1.0    3.8  5.9   5.5  6.2  5.0                              NM 72     5.4    1.0    4.5  5.4   4.8  6.2  4.9                              NMS 4     5.1    1.2    2.7  5.8   5.0  5.9  4.8                              Guymon    4.8    2.6    2.2  5.1   3.2  3.0  4.6                              Numex-Sahara                                                                            5.2    1.0    2.6  5.2   4.0  5.6  4.3                              NMS 2     5.3    1.0    2.4  5.4   3.8  5.4  4.1                              NMS 14    4.6    1.0    2.3  4.9   4.2  5.1  4.0                              AZ Common 3.4    1.0    2.2  5.0   4.0  4.7  3.8                              LSD VALUE 1.1    1.1    0.7  0.8   1.6  0.7  0.3                              ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 In certain states tests were performed at more than one location,      hence CA2 and CA3 for California and VA1 and VA4 for Virginia.                To determine statistical differences among entries, subtract one entry's      mean from another. Statistical differences occur when this value is large     than the corresponding LSD value (LSD 0.05).                             

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Spring Greenup Rating of Bermudagrass Cultivars, 1990.sup.1                           Greenup Ratings (1-9, 9 = completely green)                           Bermuda clone                                                                           AR        AZ     FL     MS   Mean                                   ______________________________________                                        MSB-20    5.7       6.0    5.3    5.7  5.7                                    Midfield (E-29)                                                                         6.0       6.3    5.0    4.0  5.3                                    NM 43     5.3       6.3    4.3    5.0  5.3                                    Midlawn (A-22)                                                                          5.7       7.0    3.3    4.7  5.2                                    Tifway    5.0       6.3    4.3    5.0  5.2                                    Vamont    5.0       6.0    4.7    4.7  5.1                                    MSB-10    3.7       6.0    5.0    5.0  4.9                                    Midiron   5.3       6.3    2.7    5.0  4.8                                    Tufote    5.7       4.7    3.0    5.7  4.8                                    Tifgreen  5.0       5.3    4.3    4.3  4.8                                    Tifway II 4.0       5.0    4.7    5.0  4.7                                    Texturf 10                                                                              3.7       6.3    4.0    4.0  4.5                                    A-29      4.7       5.0    3.3    4.7  4.4                                    RS-1      5.7       5.0    2.7    4.0  4.3                                    FB-119    1.7       6.7    5.7    3.0  4.3                                    NM 507    2.0       6.7    4.3    3.7  4.2                                    Guymon    5.7       5.0    3.3    2.0  4.0                                    NM 375    2.7       5.7    4.0    3.3  3.9                                    NM 72     2.0       5.3    4.3    4.0  3.9                                    MSB-30    1.7       7.3    2.3    4.0  3.8                                    NM 471    2.0       6.0    3.7    3.3  3.8                                    AZ Common 2.7       5.0    5.0    2.0  3.7                                    NMS 4     2.3       5.3    2.7    2.3  3.2                                    Numex-Sahara                                                                            3.0       4.3    3.0    2.0  3.1                                    NMS 14    2.7       4.7    2.3    2.0  2.9                                    CT-23     1.0       4.7    1.3    3.0  2.5                                    NMS 2     3.0       3.7    1.3    2.0  2.5                                    NMS 3     1.3       3.7    2.0    2.3  2.3                                    LSD VALUE 1.3       1.4    1.5    1.0  0.6                                    ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 To determine statistical differences among entries, subtract one       entry's mean from another. Statistical differences occur when this value      is larger than the corresponding LSD value (LSD 0.05).                   

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Frost Tolerance Ratings of Bermudagrass Cultivars, 1990.sup.1                         Frost Tolerance Ratings (1-9, 9 = no injury)                          Bermuda clone                                                                           AR          VA         Mean                                         ______________________________________                                        Tifway II 9.0         7.3        8.2                                          Tufcote   8.7         6.7        7.7                                          Tifway    8.7         6.3        7.5                                          CT-23     7.7         7.0        7.3                                          MSB-10    9.0         5.0        7.0                                          Midlawn (A-22)                                                                          8.0         5.3        6.7                                          Midfield (E-29)                                                                         7.3         5.7        6.5                                          MSB-30    8.7         4.0        6.3                                          NM 375    4.7         7.7        6.2                                          NM 507    7.0         4.7        5.8                                          A-29      8.0         3.0        5.5                                          NM 471    7.3         3.7        5.5                                          FB-119    5.3         5.0        5.2                                          NMS 2     5.3         4.7        5.0                                          NMS 4     6.3         3.7        5.0                                          Texturf 10                                                                              6.7         3.3        5.0                                          AZ Common 6.7         3.0        4.8                                          NMS 3     5.7         4.0        4.8                                          Numex-Sahara                                                                            5.3         4.3        4.8                                          NMS 14    5.0         3.7        4.3                                          RS-1      5.0         3.3        4.2                                          Midiron   5.0         3.0        4.0                                          NM 72     4.3         3.7        4.0                                          Tifgreen  5.7         2.3        4.0                                          Vamont    2.7         5.3        4.0                                          Guymon    4.7         3.0        3.8                                          NM 43     5.0         2.3        3.7                                          MSB-20    5.0         2.0        3.5                                          LSD VALUE 1.5         1.3        1.0                                          ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 To determine statistical differences among entries, subtract one       entry's mean from another. Statistical differences occur when this value      is larger than the corresponding LSD value (LSD 0.05).                   

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Winter Kill Rating of Bermudagrass Cultivars, 1990.sup.1                                 Percent Winter Kill: Locations                                     Bermuda clone                                                                              IL     MO        UB   Mean                                       ______________________________________                                        NM 507       99.0   99.0      84.7 94.2                                       NM 471       99.0   99.0      81.7 93.2                                       C1-23        99.0   99.0      80.0 92.7                                       NMS 14       99.0   99.0      73.3 90.4                                       AZ-Common    99.0   99.0      70.0 89.3                                       NM 72        99.0   99.0      61.7 86.6                                       NMS 4        99.0   98.7      56.7 84.8                                       Numex-Sahara 99.0   99.0      51.7 83.2                                       NMS 2        99.0   99.0      50.0 82.7                                       FB-119       99.0   98.7      48.3 82.0                                       NMS 3        99.0   99.0      45.0 81.0                                       MSB-30       99.0   94.3      46.7 80.0                                       Texturf 10   99.0   98.7      28.3 75.3                                       NM 375       99.0   99.0      26.7 74.9                                       Tifway II    99.0   99.0      23.3 73.8                                       MSB-10       99.0   99.0      21.7 73.2                                       Tifway       99.0   94.0      18.3 70.4                                       NM 43        99.0   99.0      10.0 69.3                                       MAV-20       99.0   99.0      8.3  68.8                                       Tifgreen     99.0   99.0      8.3  68.8                                       Midlawn (A-22)                                                                             99.0   97.7      0.0  65.6                                       RS-1         99.0   96.0      1.7  65.6                                       A-29         99.0   96.0      0.0  65.0                                       Tufcote      89.3   99.0      0.0  62.8                                       Guymon       97.7   76.7      13.3 62.6                                       Vamont       86.0   81.3      0.0  55.3                                       Midiron      99.0   67.0      0.0  55.3                                       Midfield (E-29)                                                                            99.0   59.7      0.0  52.9                                       LSD VALUE     8.6   24.6      23.9 11.8                                       ______________________________________                                         .sup. 1 To determine statistical differences among entries, subtract one      entry's mean from another. Statistical differences occur when this value      is larger than the corresponding LSD value (LSD 0.05).                   

                  TABLE 6                                                         ______________________________________                                        Genetic Color Ratings of Bermudagrass Cultivars, 1990.sup.1                            Genetic Color Ratings (1-9, 9 = dark green)                          Bermuda clone                                                                            AR     AZ     CA2  CA3  LA   TX   Mean                             ______________________________________                                        Tifway II  7.3    7.3    8.0  8.0  8.7  9.0  8.1                              Tifway     7.7    7.3    8.0  7.7  8.7  8.0  7.9                              NM 375     7.0    7.3    7.3  8.0  9.0  8.3  7.8                              MSB-10     7.3    7.0    8.0  8.0  8.0  7.7  7.7                              NM 507     6.7    8.0    7.7  7.0  8.3  8.0  7.6                              MSB-30     7.3    8.0    7.0  6.3  9.0  8.0  7.6                              NM 471     6.3    7.7    7.7  7.7  8.0  8.0  7.6                              Tufcote    6.7    6.7    6.7  6.7  7.7  8.3  7.1                              NMS 3      5.7    7.0    7.0  6.7  8.0  8.0  7.1                              Texturf 10 6.7    6.7    7.0  6.3  7.7  8.0  7.1                              Midiron    4.0    6.7    7.7  8.3  7.3  8.0  7.0                              NMS 4      6.3    6.3    6.7  6.7  8.3  7.7  7.0                              A-29       6.0    6.0    7.3  7.0  7.0  7.3  6.8                              Midlawn (A-22)                                                                           5.7    5.3    6.7  7.0  7.7  8.0  6.7                              MSB-20     6.3    6.7    6.7  6.7  7.0  6.7  6.7                              Tifgreen   6.3    6.3    6.7  6.3  7.0  7.3  6.7                              NM 72      5.3    7.0    6.7  6.0  7.3  7.3  6.6                              Midfield (E-29)                                                                          5.3    5.7    7.0  6.7  6.3  8.0  6.5                              FB-119     5.3    6.3    6.7  6.3  7.3  7.0  6.5                              Guymon     4.7    6.0    6.7  7.0  7.3  7.3  6.5                              CT-23      5.3    6.0    6.7  6.7  7.0  7.0  6.4                              NM 43      5.7    6.3    6.0  5.7  8.0  6.3  6.3                              Numex-Sahara                                                                             5.3    5.3    5.7  5.7  8.0  7.7  6.3                              NMS 2      5.3    5.3    6.0  5.7  7.0  7.3  6.1                              Vamont     5.0    5.3    6.7  6.0  7.3  6.3  6.1                              RS-1       4.3    5.7    7.0  6.0  7.0  6.3  6.1                              NMJS 14    4.7    4.7    6.3  5.0  7.0  7.3  5.8                              AZ Common  5.0    4.0    5.7  5.7  7.3  7.0  5.8                              LSD VALUE  1.6    1.0    0.7  0.9  0.7  0.8  0.4                              ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 To determine statistical differences among entries, subtract one       entry's mean from another. Statistical differences occur when this value      is larger than the corresponding LSD value (LSD 0.05).                   

                  TABLE 7                                                         ______________________________________                                        Leaf Texture Ratings of Bermudagrass Cultivars, 1990.sup.1                               Leaf Texture Ratings                                                          (1-9, 9 = very fine)                                               Bermuda clone                                                                              AR1    AZ1        LA1  Mean                                      ______________________________________                                        MSB-20       8.7    8.0        9.0  8.6                                       Tifway II    8.3    8.0        9.0  8.4                                       MSB-10       8.3    8.0        8.7  8.3                                       NM 43        7.7    8.0        8.7  8.1                                       Tifway       7.7    8.0        8.7  8.1                                       Tifgreen     8.3    7.3        8.0  7.9                                       Midlawn (A-22)                                                                             7.3    8.0        8.0  7.8                                       CT-23        6.3    7.7        8.3  7.4                                       NM 471       6.0    7.0        8.3  7.1                                       NM 507       6.0    7.0        8.0  7.0                                       Tufcote      7.0    6.3        7.7  7.0                                       NM 72        6.0    7.0        7.3  6.8                                       NMS 3        6.3    7.0        7.0  6.8                                       NMS 4        6.0    7.0        7.0  6.7                                       A-29         6.0    6.7        7.0  6.6                                       FB-119       5.7    7.0        7.0  6.6                                       MSB-30       6.0    6.7        7.0  6.6                                       NM 375       6.0    6.7        7.0  6.6                                       Midiron      6.3    6.3        7.0  6.6                                       Texturf 10   5.3    6.3        7.7  6.4                                       Midfield (E-29)                                                                            6.3    6.3        6.0  6.2                                       Numex-Sahara 5.0    6.0        7.0  6.0                                       AZ Common    6.3    5.3        6.0  5.9                                       NMS 2        4.7    5.7        6.3  5.6                                       RS-1         4.7    6.0        6.0  5.6                                       Vamont       4.7    5.7        5.3  5.2                                       NMS 14       4.3    5.3        5.7  5.1                                       Guymon       3.3    5.7        5.3  4.8                                       LSD VALUE    1.2    0.7        0.6  0.5                                       ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 To determine statistical differences among entries, subtract one       entry's mean from another. Statistical differences occur when this value      is larger than the corresponding LSD value (LSD 0.05).                   

                  TABLE 8                                                         ______________________________________                                        Summer Density Ratings of Bermudagrass Cultivars, 1990.sup.1                             Density Ratings                                                               (1-9, 9 = maximum density)                                         Bermuda clone     AR     Mean                                                 ______________________________________                                        MSB-20            9.0    9.0                                                  Tifway            9.0    9.0                                                  Tifway II         9.0    9.0                                                  MSB-10            8.7    8.7                                                  Tufcote           8.0    8.0                                                  Midlawn (A-22)    7.7    7.7                                                  NM 375            7.7    7.7                                                  NM 43             7.7    7.7                                                  NM 471            7.7    7.7                                                  NM 507            7.7    7.7                                                  Texturf 10        7.7    7.7                                                  Tifgreen          7.7    7.7                                                  A-29              7.3    7.3                                                  FB-119            7.3    7.3                                                  MSB-30            7.0    7.0                                                  NM 72             7.0    7.0                                                  Midfield (E-29)   6.7    6.7                                                  Midiron           6.7    6.7                                                  NMS 3             6.7    6.7                                                  NMS 4             6.7    6.7                                                  RS-1              6.7    6.7                                                  CT-23             6.3    6.3                                                  AZ Common         5.7    5.7                                                  NMS 2             5.7    5.7                                                  Vamont            5.7    5.7                                                  Numex-Sahara      5.0    5.0                                                  NMS 14            5.0    5.0                                                  Guymon            4.3    4.3                                                  LSD VALUE         1.1    1.1                                                  ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 To determine statistical differences among entries, subtract one       entry's mean from another. Statistical differences occur when this value      is larger than the corresponding LSD value (LSD 0.05).                   

                  TABLE 9                                                         ______________________________________                                        Evaluation of Bermudagrass Clones                                             at the Horticulture Research Center, Wichita, KS                              for Susceptibility to Spring Dead Spot                                                   Number             % Kill Total                                               of       % Area    in     Plot                                     Bermuda clone.sup.1                                                                      Spots    w/Spots   Spots  Quality.sup.2                            ______________________________________                                        Midiron    2.0      4.0       26.7   8.7                                      Midlawn (A-22)                                                                           1.3      6.2       21.7   9.0                                      Midfield (E-29)                                                                          2.3      7.8       26.7   8.0                                      A-29       2.3      12.9      33.3   8.0                                      Guymon     2.7      10.0      70.0   6.0                                      Midway     2.0      11.5      43.3   7.0                                      RS-1       3.3      20.6      70.0   6.3                                      Texturf 10 3.0      24.7      96.7   5.7                                      Vamont     3.3      26.1      95.0   4.6                                      Sunturf    3.3      32.7      90.0   4.7                                      Tifgreen   4.0      36.11     98.3   4.0                                      LSD (P = 0.05)                                                                           0.3      14.7      17.0   1.4                                      ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 Other clones in test with complete winter kill in at least two of      the three replicated plot included CT23, NM 43, NM72, NM375, NM 471,          NM507, MSB10, MSB20, MSB30, Tufcote, Tifway, Tifway II, NMS1, NMS3, NMS4,     NMS14, Arizona Common, and FB119.                                             .sup.2 Plot quality rating where 0 = complete kill of plot, and 9 = 90% o     better coverage of plot.                                                 

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent:
 1. A new and distinct varietyof Bermudagrass as shown and described.